What They are Saying About the President’s “Fat” Budget Proposal

Washington, DC – Today the White House released President Trump’s full budget proposal for FY 2018. The full budget proposal is similar to the outline released in March. This proposal reduces the Environmental Protection Agency’s budget by 31.4%, which will severely hamper the agency’s ability to protect clean water and public health or enforce landmark laws like the Clean Water and Clean Air Acts. Members of Congress declared the budget outline in March “dead on arrival” and condemned the draconian cuts to programs that help states and cities clean up vital estuaries like Chesapeake Bay, waters like the Great Lakes, and more.

Clean Water Action President Bob Wendelgass released the following statement in response.

“After near universal condemnation of the reckless ‘skinny’ budget outline in March, the President doubled down on a terrible and mean budget that eviscerates the safety net and guts the programs we rely on to protect clean water and public health. Despite all his talk about improving infrastructure, the budget undermines drinking water programs by slashing programs that protect source water and gutting funding for pollution control and enforcement activities. The only people who benefit from this proposal are the wealthy, whose taxes will be lowered on the backs of the poor and sick, and corporate polluters who will be able to act with impunity, putting profits before public health and clean water.”

“The only responsible thing for Congress to do is reject this budget. But that doesn’t get them off the hook. Congress can’t allow us to return to the hard sequester spending caps that have strangled programs that safeguard public health and protect clean water at EPA and other agencies. Congress must lead the way, put their constituents before their campaign donors, and pass a budget with the funding necessary to help us put drinking water first.”

“Sadly, if the first 6 months of this Congress is any indication, instead of rejecting this budget outright, Republican leadership is most likely going to try to pass a slightly less draconian version of President Trump’s proposal. We can’t allow that. We need members of Congress to join us and demand a budget that puts people before profits and provides the funding needed to enhance the safety net, protect clean water, and safeguard public health.”

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Since our founding during the campaign to pass the landmark Clean Water Act in 1972, Clean Water Action has worked to win strong health and environmental protections by bringing issue expertise, solution-oriented thinking and people power to the table. We will protect clean water in the face of attacks from a polluter friendly Administration and Congress.

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American Rivers

Trump Administration’s Budget Cuts Put Clean Water, Rivers at Risk

Washington, DC — Threats to the nation’s clean drinking water supplies are in the spotlight this week, as President Trump is proposing massive budget cuts to clean water and river restoration efforts.

President Trump’s budget proposal includes deep cuts to the Environmental Protection Agency, proposing to cut the agency by almost one third by slashing funding for vital environmental initiatives including EPA’s enforcement and compliance program for bedrock environmental laws.

The budget eliminates funding for regional restoration efforts, including the Great Lakes Restoration Initiative and the Chesapeake Bay Program, each of which provide resources to states and communities trying to restore and protect the rivers that flow into these iconic waterways.

The budget also slashes funds for all National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration grants and programs supporting coastal and marine management, research and education. These programs support river restoration, scientific research, and fisheries recovery which are essential to communities that care about their rivers.

The Trump Budget also virtually eliminates the popular Land and Water Conservation Fund (LWCF) which allows the Interior Department and the Forest Service to expand access to public lands. Incredibly, the Trump Budget eliminates the Pre-Disaster Mitigation program at the Federal Emergency Management Agency which helps communities prepare for disasters such as hurricanes, tornados and floods.

Bob Irvin, President of American Rivers, made the following statement:

“In terms that President Trump will understand, his budget is a loser. The President’s budget proposal is an attack on our clean drinking water supplies and the rivers that are vital to the health, economy and quality of life of communities nationwide. Unfortunately, it is the
American people, and the rivers and clean water we treasure, that will pay the price if this budget is adopted by Congress.”

“We need to take care of the rivers that take care of us. Congress has a responsibility to toss this reckless proposal and craft a budget that ensures communities get the clean water safeguards they need. Americans must call their Members of Congress and insist they reject the Trump Budget.”

“As the nation’s voice for rivers, American Rivers will continue to fight to safeguard the rivers and streams that connect us all, and to protect clean drinking water for American families and future generations.”